"...willing to...comfort those that stand in need of comfort..." (Mosiah 18:9)

Just a few thoughts on "comfort":

When we get baptized into The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints we make the covenant to be "willing to...comfort those that stand in need of comfort..." (Mosiah 18:9). I feel it's worth asking what does it mean to comfort someone? The definition from Merriam/Webster says, "Comfort: 1) give strength and hope; cheer. 2) to ease the grief or trouble of; console" (comfort).

How are you comforted or what brings you comfort, hope, strength, cheer, or eases your grief or troubles? Frequently I seek comfort and cheer in food, chocolate, and/or sugar. But that is very short-lived because I eat it too fast, but boy it tastes good! I experience comfort in feeling safe and secure, in feeling loved and cared for- I find this comfort at home with my family, with friends, and spending time with my loved ones. I also find great comfort in studying and pondering the words of Christ in the scriptures. In doing so, I hear Him (Mark9:7; 3 Nephi 11:7; Joseph Smith History 1:17; see also Hear Him) and I often feel comforted even when my challenges do not dissipate. I ask "what brings you comfort" because when we can identify what brings us comfort, it is often the same ways in which others find or will experience comfort. Thus, you can find simple ways to "comfort, offering strength, cheer, ease the grief or trouble, or console" another simply by sharing what you know will bring you comfort. 

I love the plea of Alma the younger to the Lord for comfort:

"O Lord, my heart is exceedingly sorrowful; wilt thou comfort my soul in Christ. O Lord, wilt thou grant unto me that I may have strength, that I may suffer with patience these afflictions which shall come upon me, because of the iniquity of this people. O Lord, wilt thou comfort my soul, and give unto me success, and also my fellow laborers who are with me-...yea, even all these wilt thou comfort, O Lord. Yea, wilt thou comfort their souls in Christ" (Alma 31:31-32 italics added).

He is pleading that his soul may be comforted in Christ. I believe Alma is expressing what will bring him comfort, which is strength, and to "suffer with patience" his afflictions. Think about what it means to you to have your soul comforted in Christ. How does Christ comfort your soul? I find great comfort in the promises of peace and rest that Christ offers us again and again (see Matthew 11:28-30; John 14:27; John 16:33; D&C 19:23; Alma 58:11; see also Peace of God).

Another verse that touched my heart was when Alma (the father of Alma the younger), receives a reply from the Lord after pleading for the welfare of his people.

"The voice of the Lord came to them in their afflictions, saying: Lift up your heads and be of good comfort, for I know of the covenant which ye have made unto me; and I will covenant with my people and deliver them out of bondage" (Mosiah 24:13 italics added). 

Good comfort...I believe when I trust the Lord and trust my covenants, I receive "good comfort". God keeps His covenants, and He will help us keep ours. The truth that I can repent again and again, that I get to keep trying over and over brings me good comfort. Another "good comfort" is the plan of happiness also called the plan of salvation, the plan of redemption, the merciful plan, or the plan of God (you can search all of those here.)  

 

Please notice, Alma and his people do not receive an immediate release from captivity, but the Lord does "ease the burdens which are put upon [their] shoulders, that even [they] cannot feel them upon [their] backs, even while [they] are in bondage..." (Mosiah 24:14). Think about the comfort that comes as we are given the strength to endure the challenges of life. The comfort of the Holy Ghost, which is called, The Comforter (John 14:26-27). The ability to endure the challenges of life is good comfort!

Our Father in Heaven does the same for each of us when we are in "bondage" or suffering. He is the "God of all comfort" (2 Corinthians 1:3). He comforts us by giving us the strength to endure the things we cannot carry on our own (see Job 12:13,16,21). He comforts us by giving us hope when there seems to be little to no hope (see Psalm 130:5,7). He comforts as we exercise faith in Him as He said, "Be of good cheer; I have overcome the world" (see John 16:33).

I know God blesses us and helps us as we comfort those that stand in need of comfort. As Elder Eyring said, we "Lighten the loads of those best by helping the Lord strengthen them" (The Comforter). I have found that when I strengthen and comfort others I am also strengthened and receive comfort. I know He will help us as we serve and care for one another, even cheer, and comfort by small and simple acts of kindness and love. 

I receive comfort when I spend time with loved ones

I receive comfort when I spend time in nature

Remember, You are SO loved!

"Be ye mindful..." (1 Chronicles 16:15)

I haven't written much in the past couple of years. Without sharing all the "stuff" that has happened, let me just say it has been rough. Yet, I know that we all have "stuff", and some of that stuff is really BIG and painful, and sad, and lots of hurting, and sorrow-full...BUT, there are also small moments of calm, and pleasantness, and happiness, and cheer, even delight. Indeed, "there is an opposition in all things" (2 Nephi 2:11).

Over the past few years, I have learned a lot about mindfulness. What does it mean to be mindful? For me, it has come to mean that I purposely pay attention to what I am experiencing. And as I do so, I do it without finding fault or being critical of my experience. It is a way of experiencing what is (see Jacob 4:13; D&C 93:24), rather than allowing my mind to make up stories and lead me down a path of despair. 

I become aware of my breath (see Mosiah 2:21), slowing down and paying attention to the air that fills my lungs and then paying attention to the air as it leaves. Doing this brings my mind to the present moment quickly, it lowers the heart rate, it helps control my thoughts. It helps stop the train wreck thinking, the thinking that runs away with the worst-case scenarios ever! It brings me back to the present, to what is happening at the moment.

Breathe in.

Breathe out.

God wants us to be mindful of Him and His ways. In 1 Chronicles it says, "Be ye mindful always of His covenant; the word which He commanded to a thousand generations" (1 Chronicles 16:15). Paul wrote to Timothy, "I thank God, whom I serve from my forefathers with pure conscience, that without ceasing I have remembrance of thee in my prayers night and day; Greatly desiring to see thee, being mindful of thy tears, that I may be filled with joy" (2 Timothy 1:3-4 italics added). I am praying for you. I know God is aware of your pain, and your life. He is mindful of you always.

God uses mindfulness to help us stay present in Him. The prophets say, "The Lord hath been mindful of us: He will bless us (Psalm 115:12). And He does.  I have learned that I get to choose what I will focus on when difficult times hit our home and family (see 2 Nephi 2:27). I get to decide if I will focus on the pain or on the healing. They are both present, it's just a matter of what I want to give attention to, allowing the experiences to pass through me rather than gripping them and causing more pain.

One of my favorite passages of scripture is, "Be still, and know that I am God" (Psalm 46:10; D&C 101:16). This has become a mantra I think as I breathe in, "Be still", and as I breathe out, "know ...I am God". I symbolically breathe in the calm and peace I need, and then I breathe out the trust and faith that is exercised. I invite you to give it a try- be still. Notice what IS, and enjoy the present moment.

God is present. "...There is no God beside me, and all things are present with me, for I know them all." (Moses 1:6). Be still. Learn of Him, and you shall have peace (see D&C 19:23).

Breathe in..."Be Still."

Breathe out... "...know...I am God".

"...ye are only in the service of your God" (Mosiah 2:17)

In my scripture study today a new thought came to me as I read a scripture that I have read many, many times. The scripture is Mosiah 2:17. "And behold, I tell you these things that ye may learn wisdom; that ye may learn that when ye are in the service of your fellow beings ye are only in the service of your God".

By serving others I serve God. God, He is the Creator of heaven and earth. The God who knows all things, and has all wisdom, even so much that I cannot comprehend all that He has done and will do for us (see Mosiah 4:9) He is the Creator of my body, the Father of my soul. How could I possibly serve Him who needs nothing and has everything? He simply wants me to serve Him by serving others. Why? I think it's about love.

I continue to ponder this humbling gift I can offer the King of Kings (see Revelations 17:14). Most kings want money, they want power, they often tax their people heavily and live lives of luxury and... some would confine their people "in dungeons..." or would have them "murder, or plunder, or steal, or commit adultery; or that [they] should commit any manner of wickedness" (Mosiah 2:12-13). But what Jesus Christ, the "Prince of Peace" (Isaiah 9:6) asks of us is so simple and good: "Love Me, Love your neighbor as yourself" (see Matthew 22:36-40).

When I ponder serving my God, I view this command from Him very differently. He says, "Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren ye have done it unto me" (Matthew 25:40). Thinking about how I treat others...it's how I would treat Him.

This thought has caused me to pause and ponder my own behavior. I can love and serve with more kindness, more patience. I can forgive more quickly and let go of the need to be "right". I want to serve Him, even Jesus Christ, my God, my King (see Sweet is the Work). Therefore, I will keep trying to serve others. I am eternally indebted to Him who gave His life for me, and for you. Go and serve one another. It's how Jesus Christ wants us to serve Him. 

This delicious cinnamon roll was given to me by our neighbor. They continue to serve me and my family in many sweet ways! Thank you for serving us...and therefore serving God. 

Remember- you are so loved! Keep up the Great Work!

“Come Follow Me”

My feet
walk with pain
but I try not to notice
Pain that was worse
but is getting better
I hope.

I walk
one foot in front of the other,
grateful I can move.

CRPS has taught me
to be grateful
to give thanks for small things
to expect miracles
to endure
to look for the good
to see the joy in the journey
I learn that pain is not constant
but ebbs and flows
as an ocean flows to the shore
and back out to sea again
ebbs and flows

I breathe in
I breathe out
one breath is not like the other
each one different
each moment of pain
is different than the next
Miracles happen
Pain subsides

Christ has carried my pain
He said He would carry my pain
He said, Let it pass through you,
Do not hold onto it.

He is carrying my pain.
He calls to me,
Come!
Follow Me.

Jesus Carries His Cross symbolic of carrying our pain

I will carry your pain,
but you must choose to trust Me.

I will carry your pain.
Let it pass through you.

I let go of the boat and step out
onto the water
One foot in front of the other
one step at a time
I do not sink
I follow Him.
Christ carries my pain.

I walk
one foot in front of the other,
grateful I can move.

"...Always Remember Him" (D&C 20:77,79)

Me and my nephew James, who is loved and missed!

Death. It's so final. It's difficult to describe the suffering that comes when a loved one dies. Especially when they die unexpectedly.

I have always been afraid of the pain that accompanies the death of a loved one. Grief is such a heavy burden to bear, even more so when I am alone. When I only focus on the loss, the separation that death brings with it, the cross of grief is unbearable.

When Jesus' dear friend Lazarus had died, Lazarus' sister, Martha, said to Him, "Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died". Jesus first tries to comfort her by saying, "Thy brother shall rise again". I love that Martha responds by sharing her faith and belief with Jesus, "I know that he shall rise again in the resurrection at the last day." (John 11). I too know this, that I shall see my loved ones again at the resurrection. But I feel overwhelming grief at this separation that came so unexpectedly.

As the conversation continues between Jesus and Martha, He also testifies of His power and light. "I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die." (John 11:25)

When death comes to a loved one, faith is tried and tested. Grief clouds my thoughts and makes my heart heavy. I have a difficult time seeing through the darkness that has accompanied this death.

Christ asks, "Believest though this?" I must ask myself, do I believe Christ? Do I believe that death is not the end? Do I believe that those who live and believe in Christ "never die"? Death is a great test of faith for all of us.

As Jesus goes with Mary and Martha to the tomb of Lazarus a crowd follows. What is the Savior's response? Does He say, "I have this covered. Don't cry. Don't mourn"? No. He cares for them as a dear friend would care.

Jesus wept. (John 11:35)

"Jesus wept" (John 11:35).

He felt their loss. He felt their grief. He had compassion for them. He cried with them.

If I focus on grief, I cannot bear this cross of pain and suffering (see Be Still, My Soul). It is too painful. It is too heavy (Matthew 11:28).

I am not alone in my grief. And I want to bear it well (see 2 Nephi 9:18). How can I do this? How can I get through this loss of life, the loss of all the memories that will not be...

I force my focus to shift from grief to hope in the Savior.

I practice focusing on Jesus Christ by looking to the "light which shineth," which gives me and you light (D&C 88:11). The light is that death is not the end. The light is the small blessings of comfort extended by friends, loved ones, and even more, the love God has for all of us.

As I focus on Christ I can see! I am able to endure the darkness of death and loss of life. My burden is made lighter (in weight and in brightness).

I can bear this cross as I stay focused on the Savior. He saves me from being lost in grief.

The Resurrected Christ, by Wilson J. Ong 

Jesus Christ is the resurrection (Helaman 14:15-17), it's in Him that I can live, I can endure (see Philippians 4:13) and have hope (see 1 Thessalonians 1:3).

It's through Christ, and because of Christ that I can endure all things (see Philippians 4:13), even the unexpected death of a loved one.

Every week I covenant to "always remember Him" (Moroni 4-5; see also D&C 20:77, 79). I am learning to do this more.

I am becoming better at remembering, as I bear my cross of grief and pain (see Be Still, My Soul).